Gas explosion kills 22 in Taiwan

01 August 2014, News Wires – An explosion caused by a gas leak has resulted in at least 22 deaths and left up to 270 injured in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, according to reports.
The explosions sparked a massive inferno that ripped through the city’s Cianjhen district, sending terrified residents fleeing a huge ball of flames, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

“The blasts late Thursday killed at least 22 people and left 270 others injured,” the National Fire Agency said, adding that the injured were being rushed to various hospitals in the port city.

The BBC reported that the exact cause of the gas leak was not yet known but reports claim the blasts were caused by ruptured pipelines.

Taiwan’s CNA news agency cited Premier Jiang Yi-huah as saying the accident began with gas leaks in the city’s sewage system which led to multiple explosions.